On the evening of March 15th, 1909, the steamship SS Dorset docked at the London Docks after a very long, very treacherous journey from Australia. The crew were itching for some fun. But not everyone managed to come back unscathed.
On that particular evening, the crew were rowdy. They were ready for a holiday. They were excited to head to shore for food, liquor, and women (not necessarily in that order). Among those looking for a little jocularity were second engineer William Sproull and an engine-room hand known only as McEachern.
Once on shore, they headed into Whitechapel and Stepney, areas known for their pubs, bars, and brothels. They secured themselves rooms at the Three Nuns Hotel. They had some food and drink, and proceeded off into the night.
Shortly after leaving the hotel, they were approached by two beautiful women in Rupert Street. Those women were Emily Allen and Ellen Stevens. The two men followed the women, and then an altercation took place. Some called it a “drunken dispute over money”. Others called it a planned attack.
Unbeknownst to Sproull and McEachern, they were being watched by two men – brothers, Marks and Morris Reubens. Marks was 22 and Morris was 23. And they were “well known to the police for their thieving and protection rackets”. They were also Emily and Ellen’s ‘employers’.
Once the men had entered a dwelling with the women, the brothers rushed them. Morris brandished a whip made of hippopotamus hide and went after McEachern. Marks took it upon himself to stab Sproull over and over again.
McEachern managed to escape, which allowed for Morris to turn his attentions to Sproull. Along with his brother, the attack continued. Somehow, Sproull got away, but shortly thereafter he stumbled out onto the street and collapsed – dead. He was covered in wounds.
Police were called after a watchman doing his rounds discovered the body. The investigation was led by “redoubtable” Inspector Frederick Wensely. He discovered that there was a particularly vicious stab wound close to Sproull’s heart.
Here, reports differ slightly. Some say that it was a trail of threepenny bits that led the Inspector to Sproull’s attackers. Others say it was a trail of bloodstains leading from Sproull’s body, down the street, to a door, and then on clothing worn by the brothers. They certainly had red on them.
Whether it was threepenny bits, bloodstains, or both, a trail was followed, and a house was raided. Inside the house, police found the Ruebens brothers as well as Emily Allen and Ellen Stevens.
Morris turned on his brother immediately. However, the police had already found the whip used on McEachern an then on Sproull in his possession. They also found Sproull’s watch in his pocket.
Marks remained silent; indignant. His bloody knife was found hidden behind a stove.
Both Emily and Ellen gave gruesome and graphic details of the attack. They both stated that Morris had wielded the whip, while Marks had brandished the knife.
On Thursday, April 22nd, 1909, the Ruebens brothers were on trial for murder at the Old Bailey. Emily and Ellen were also charged with being accessories to murder. They all pleaded ‘not guilty’.
The charges against Emily and Ellen were eventually dropped. Instead, the two turned against the brothers and testified for the prosecution. They proved to be formidable witnesses, having proven that the brothers had used them in their ploys and rackets.
During the trial, “Morris Reubens put on a display of histrionics in the dock and a doctor was called to attend to him”. He couldn’t fathom why the women would turn against him – especially since Ellen was his own wife.
Both women testified that there was an arrangement with the Reubens brothers. Ellen had lived with Morris for two-and-a-half years. He convinced her to use her charms to attract men (marks) and then convinced Emily to help. Once the trap had been set, Marks and Morris would set upon the unsuspecting victims and “relieve” them of their money and valuables.
For whatever reason, things escalated to the extreme with Sproull and McEachern.
It took the jury merely 10 minutes to find the Reubens brothers guilty. Mr. Justice Jelf sentenced them to death.
The brothers were hanged at Pentonville Prison on May 20th, 1909.
Sometimes, police follow the money. Sometimes, they follow the blood. Sometimes, they follow both.
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Sources:
The Mammoth Book of Bizarre Crimes – Robin Odell
The Murder of William Sproull – Richard Jones – Jack the Ripper Tour
Hanged at Pentonville – Steve Fielding